Monitoring apparatus for a textile winding machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a textile winding machine upon which yarn is unwound successively from a plurality of yarn holders and wound onto a larger package. A signalgenerating means is provided adjacent a yarn holder indexing mechanism for generating a signal each time a full yarn holder is rotated into the unwinding position. Another signal-generating means is carried by the winding machine for generating a signal responsive to manually restarting the machine, such as takes place after the larger package has been doffed or there has been a mistie.

United States Patent lnventors John M. Cochran, Jr.;

Martin F. O'Brien, both of Greenville, S.C. 835,559

June 23, 1969 Sept. 7, 1971 Frontier Electronics, Inc.

Greenville, S.C.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MONITORING APPARATUS FOR A TEXTILEWINDING MACHINE 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

s, (I 242/3543 R, 242/36, 242/130 Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/22, B65h 63/00,B65h 49/ 1 2 Field otSearch .t 242/356 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,961,178 11/1960 Chambley 242/356 3,048,349 8/ 1962Pitts et al. 242/130 3,124,316 3/1964 O'Brien et a1.. 242/355 3,151,81810/1964 Davis 242/355 Primary Examiner- Stanley N. GilreathAnorneyBailey and Dority ABSTRACT: An apparatus for monitoring theoperation of a textile winding machine upon which yarn is unwoundsuccessively from a plurality of yarn holders and wound onto a largerpackage. A signal-generating means is provided adjacent a yarn holderindexing mechanism for generating a signal each time a full yarn holderis rotated into the unwinding position. Another signal-generating meansis carried by the winding machine for generating a signal responsive tomanually restarting the machine, such as takes place after the largerpackage has been doffed or there has been a mistie.

PATENTEMEP mm mm, H 1 m SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTORS. MARTIN F. OBmenmATTORNEYS.

BY JOHN M.COCHRAN,JR.

PATENTEU SEP 7197! SHEET E OF 3 INVENTORS. MARTW F. OBR\EN& By UOHNM.CocHaAN,JR.

A TTORNE Y5 PATENTEUSEP 719?: 3,503,515

SHEET [1F 3 INVENTORS.

MARTIN F. OBR\EN E. BY JOHN M.COCHR.AN,JR.

ATTORNE S.

MONITORING AFPARATUS FOR A TEXTILE WINDING MACHINE This inventionrelates to an apparatus for monitoring the operation of a textilewinding machine, and more particularly to an apparatus which counts thenumber of full bobbins that are unwound and the number times the windingmachine is restarted The invention is particularly applicable to windingmachines of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,764,362 issued Sept.25, 1956, to W. V. Goodhue et al. for WINDING MACHINE? whichautomatically repairs broken ends in the winding strand and ties in newsupplies when the supply is exhausted. Only those portions of thewinding machine are shown which arenecessary to enable a person tovisualize a particular environment where the invention is applicable. Amore detailed disclosure of the components illustrated in the drawingsis found in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,764,362, U.S. Pat. No.3,081,046 granted to Barnes, Jr. et al. on Mar. 12, 1963, and U.S. Pat.No. 3,048,349 granted to Pitts et al. on Aug. 7, 1962. The winder uponwhich the monitoring apparatus is mounted is generally known in thetextile industry as the UNICONER" automatic cone winder manufactured by.Leesona Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts.

Heretofore, one way of paying operators of winding machines on anincentive basis was based on weighing the packages. However, if themachine itself were not operating properly, then the operator would bepenalized for the actions of the machine rather than his ownperformance. The apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention provides an incentive method wherein an operator can be paidfor the number of bobbins dropped or loaded by him on a winding machine.Therefore, if an operator works at a higher rate of speed, he will bepaid more than a slower performing operator. Another method of basingthe rate of pay is on the number of times the operator doffs the machineor reties misties. Each of these last two functions requires manuallyrestarting machines thereafter. If it is desired in calculatingtheincentive pay to know how many misties took place, it is only necessaryto count the number of packages dofi'ed and subtract from the readingson the counters which totalize both the number of packages and thenumber of misties.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a monitoring apparatus for winding machines and the like,wherein the number of bobbins or yarn holders unwound are totalized andthe number of times the winder is manually restarted is recorded.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aswitching means for a winding machine for generating a signal responsiveto an indexing mechanism rotating a full yarn holder into an unwindingposition, but does not generate a signal when there is no yarn holdermounted on the carrier.

Another important object of the present invention is to provideinformation regarding the operation of a winding machine so thatoperators of the machines can be paid on an incentive basis relating tothe attention and work performed by the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be ap parent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification, and y reference to the ac companying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein wherein an example of the invention isshown and wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevation of one segment of a winding machine withparts removed therefrom for the purpose of clarity,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view, partially in section, illustratinga lifting member provided for raising a yarn holder after it has beenunwound,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section,illustrating the indexing mechanism for the yarn holders and a switchmeans mounted thereon,

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, illustrating aportion of the indexing mechanism looking from the bottom of theindexing mechanism upwardly,

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit for themonitoring device, and

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a portion of the electrical circuitprovided for counting the number of restarts of the winding machine.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus for monitoring the operation of atextile winding machine in which the yarn is unwound successively from aplurality of yarn holders A and wound onto a larger package B. Thewinding machine is provided with a manually operated restart handle Cwhich is manually depressed by the operator to restart the machine aftersuch has been stopped to doff the larger package or when there is amistie of the ends of the yarn. A yarn holder indexing means is providedfor successively rotating the yarn holders A into an unwinding positionfrom a reserve position. A signal generating means E is carried adjacentthe yarn holder indexing means D for generating a signal each time afull yarn holder A is rotated into the unwinding position. A totalizingmeans F is coupled to the signal generating means E for totalizing thenumber of yarn holders: unwound; A second signal-generating means G iscarried by the textile winding machine for generating a signalresponsive to the restarting handle C being depressed. Anothertotalizing means is coupled to the second signal generating means G forrecording the number of times the winding machine has been restarted. Anelectronic circuit is interposed between a totalizing means F and aplurality of signal generating means which generate a signal each time afull-yarn holder is rotated to the unwinding position. A similar circuitis provided between the second signal generating means associated withthe restart handle and a totalizing means F associated therewith.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in ageneral sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textileor otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean theproduct of a winding or twisting machine, whatever its form.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in connection with the winding machine of thetype disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,764,362 which is better known as theUNICONER" winder, the winding machine is provided with a plurality ofidentical units, as shown in FIG. I, each of which is adapted to wind apackage B. The yarn Ill is unwound from a yarn holder A, and fed over aflat upper plate of a housing I2 which includes conventional tensioningand waxing elements which form no part of the present invention, and aredescribed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,119,571 granted to Pitts on Jan.29, 1964. Some of the elements of the box will be identified for thesole purpose of illustrating the path of the yarn 1 l.

The yarn II as previously mentioned, is unwound from the yarn holder Aand extends through an eyelet I3 between the usual tension disc I4, awaxed disc 18, and through a yarn holddown and guide mechanism 22 ontothe package B on core I7 which, in turn, is suitably mounted on mandrel13. Mandrel I8 is rotatably supported on a pivot arm 19, connected to arod 20, supported in a bearing 21 of a bracket 22. The bracket 22 ismounted for pivotal movement on a stub shaft 23 journaled in the upperportion of an upstanding arm 24, which is also capable of pivotalmovement. A shaft 25 extending through housing 26 mounts arm 24 on theouter end thereof. The shaft 25 extends within housing 26, and isconnected to a suitable mechanism fully described in U.S. Pat. No.2,764,362 to rock said shaft to thereby pivot arm 24 to move the packageB. Similar suitable mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,046and U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,205.

A yarn traversing and package drive roll 27 having helical grooves (notshown) in the periphery thereof, is fixed to shaft 28 for rotationtherewith. The shaft 28 extends longitudinally of the housing 26 and isconnected to any suitable power means, such as an electric motor notherein illustrated. As shownin FIG. 1, drive roll 27 serves to receivethe surface of package on its periphery and to frictionally rotate thepackage to wind a running strand of yarn l1 thereon. It will beunderstood that the mandrel 18 will be maintained in full drivingcontact with the surface of the drive roll 27 as wraps of yarn are laidon the package B by the rotation of rod 20 and bearings 21 to tilt orcant said mandrel 18. Further, as package B increases in diameter themandrel 18 will be progressively moved away from drive roll 27 due tothe increasing yarn mass on core 17 causing arms 19 and rod 20 to swingclockwise about the shaft 23.

A restart handle C has a lower end integral with or otherwise connectedto the shaft 30 which extends through the housing 26, and will be rockedin a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) when the starting handle C ispulled downwardly. On the other end of shaft 30 is a fixed crank 31extending generally vertically and terminating at its upper end abovethe top of the housing 26. A pin 32 is affixed on the upper end of thecrank 31 for engagement with an elongated slot 33a cut in the front endof a connecting link 33. The connecting link 33 is, in turn, operablyconnected to the upstanding arm 24 as disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,081,046.

It will be seen that as starting lever C is rocked downwardly to restartthe machine after a package B has been doffed, or there has been amistie of the yarn 1 1, such causes a counterclockwise rotation of crank31. After pin 32 has reached the forward limit of slot 33a such willcause the package extension arm 19 tobe lowered into winding positionwith the package tube 17 in peripheral contact with the driving roll 27to initiate winding of a new package. As can be seen, the secondsignal-generating means G is attached to complementary shaped bracketmounted on the crank 31. The signal-generating means G is a mercuryswitch and when the starting arm 29 is pulled downwardly the mercuryswitch closes producing a signal indicating that the winding machine hasbeen restarted. The manner in which these signals are totalized will bediscussed more fully below with the electrical circuitry.

Since the package B is wound from the yarn carried on a plurality ofyarn holders A, it can be seen that it is necessary that the ends ofsuccessive packages of yarn carried on the yarn holders A be joined. Anindexing mechanism D is provided for rotating the yarn holders from aload or reserve position, such as illustrated by the dotted line in FIG.4, 90 to an unwinding position appropriately labeled in FIG. 4. Itshould be kept in mind that the view of the portion of the indexingmechanism illustrated in FIG. 4 is taken from the bottom of the machinelooking upwardly. Therefore, from that position the indexing machinerotates in a clockwise direction. However, when viewing the indexingmechanism from the side, such as in FIGS. 1 and-2, it rotates in acounterclockwise direction.

The indexing mechanism is mounted on a rail 34, preferably in the formof inverted U-shaped channel having its end edges restingupon othersupporting portions of the machine (not shown). A shaft 35 extendsupwardly through the rail 34 and is suitably journaled therein forrotation about a vertical axis. At its lower end shaft 35 projects belowthe top wall of rail 34 as at 36, and a beveled gear 37 is rigidly fixedto the end of the shaft. Meshing with beveled gear 37 is a beveledpinion 38 secured to the outer end of a horizontal shaft 39 extendingthrough the wall of rail 34. In some models the shaft 39 extendslongitudinally across the winding machine with pinion gears mountedthereon so that the shaft can be used to drive a plurality of indexingmechanisms. The end of the shaft 39 remote from rail 34 is connected toa suitable source of power (not shown) and it is contemplated that shaft39 shall be rotated from time to time through a limited arc, either byperiodic operation of shaft 39, or in some other manner as desired. Therotation of shaft 39 provides power for indexing the bobbins or yarnholders A from a reserve position to the unwinding position.

There is affixed to shaft 35 at a point somewhat above the upper levelof rail 34 a yarn carrier member generally designated at 40, constructedof four radially extending branches 41 through 44, respectively, havinga central hub portion press fitted or otherwise secured on shaft 35.Adjacent the respective outer ends of the branches 41 through 44 arevertically arranged posts 46 having their upper ends tapered to receiveand support the yarn supply package holders A. As shown in the drawings,these packages are in the form of tubular bobbins provided with an axialbore into the lower end of which the tapered ends of the posts 46 fit tosupport the package with their axis parallel to axis of shaft 35. Itwill be understood, of course, that carrier 40 could be adapted tosupport other types of yarn holders as well.

Each of the branches 41 through 44 is provided at its inner end adjacenthub 45 with pairs of spaced apart upstanding ears 47 which are bridgedat their upper end by a horizontal pin 48. Projecting outwardly from thepairs of ears 47 with their inner ends pivoted on pins 48 are lift arms49. The lift arm includes an upper lifting member which terminates in acircular portion 50 adjacent its outer end and is secured to a lowerportion 51 by a pin 52 which extends through a U- shaped top 53 of thelower portion. The upper member has a pair of opposed downwardlyextending flanges 54 and 55 which form a U-shaped top and sides directlyover the U- shaped top 53 of the lower position, and is secured theretoby the pin 52 extending therethrough. A spring 56 is also carried on thepin 52 and has an outwardly projecting end 57 which engages the bottomside of the circular portion 50 tending to force such in a clockwisedirection. It will be noted that the U- shaped top 53 of the lowerportion has a downwardly projecting tongue 58 which extends through anelongated slot 59 in a respective carrier arm to ride on the outer edgeof a cam 60. A pin 61 projects outwardly from the tongue 58 for engaginga notch 62 carried in a lower edge of the flange 54 so as to lock thelifting arm 49 in the raised position, such as shown on the left in FIG.2. The spring 56 maintains lifting arm in this raised position until anoperator loads the respective post 46 with a yam-carrying elementdepressing the lifting arm and releasing the notch off the pin 61. Inother words, the lifting arm has two pivotal members. One pivots aboutthe pin 48 while the circular portion 50 pivots about pin 52. i

The enlarged circular portions 50 are preferably bent upwardly from thenormal plane of a flat top portion 63 which is integral with the opposeddownwardly extending flanges 54 and 55 so that, when the arms are in thefully depressed position, the outer edge of the circular portion 50rests against the top face of the respective branch with the inner endof the lift arms supported above the surface in the ears 47 such asillustrated on the right in FIG. 3.

Fitting around the posts 46 between the tapered end portions and theenlarged circular portions 50 of the lift arms are tubular sleeves 64,which are just long enough to leave the tapered end portion of the post46 exposed when the lift arms 49 are in the fully depressed position.The circular portions 50 have a cylindrical opening adjacent their endwhich encompass the post 46, but the outer edge of the circular memberis closely adjacent the post 46 so that when the lifting arm is raisedit will, in turn, raise the sleeve 64 forcing the yarn holder A off thetop of the tapered post 46.

The manner in which the lift arms 49 are raised is accomplished throughthe medium of the elongated tongues 58 which side on the cam as thecarrier arms are indexed. The cam 60 is fixed to an enlarged circularhub 65 which is, in turn, bolted by bolts 65a to the rail 34. The cam 60is substantially circular with a portion removed so a to produce asubstantially straight edge 66 with a smooth flowing notch 67 removedtherefrom, such as illustrated in FIG. 4. It is, also, noted that anadditional plate 67a is bolted the cam 60 by bolt 68 and extendsslightly beyond the curved periphery providing a smooth projection 69extending therefrom. The purpose of such is discussed more fully below.I

Up to this point the structure described is a conventional windingmachine and is disclosed for the purpose of setting forth theenvironment in which the monitoring device is used. Thesignal-generating means E which forms a part of the monitoring device ismounted on the base of the enlarged circular hub 65 and has a flatbaseplate projecting outwardly, which has a hole therein, through whichthe bolt 65a passes to secure the switching means thereto. The switchingmeans E is carried within a rectangular-shaped metallic housing formedof the sidewalls 711 and 72 and joined by an end wall 73, baseplate 7t),and a top plate 74. The end of the housing opposite end wall 73 is open.A switch 75 is suitably carried within the housing and has a springbiased plunger 76 extending from a sidewall. An arm 77 has an inner endpivotally attached to the switch 75 and extends across in engagementwith the plunger 76 outwardly through the open end of the housing andterminates in an inwardly slanting portion 770 which is located adjacentthe notched out portion 67 of the cam. The switch is, in turn, groundedto the housing through lead 7 8 and bolt 79.

As the carrier arms are indexed the downwardly extending tongues 58 rideon the peripheral surface of the cam 6% raising and lowering the liftingarms 49 accordingly. lfthe yarn holder A has been loaded'on post as thepost is rotated the unwinding position (see FIGS. 2 and 3) the tongueassociated with the respective lifting arm rides along the peripheraledge of the cam 64) over the housing provided for the switch 75. Afterit passes over the housing the lifting arm drops downwardly to theposition shown on the right in FIG. 3, since the tongue 58 is allowed tomove radially inward as a result of the edge of the cam being radiallycloser to the center axis. As this takes place the tongue engages theoutwardly extending arm 77 pivoting such inwardly causing the plunger 76of the switch to be momentarily depressed. This, in turn, causes anelectrical circuit to be closed generating a signal which is sent to themonitoring device, as more fully discussed with the electrical circuitryof FIG. 5. If, however, the operator has failed to load a bobbin on apost 46, the lifting arm remains in the upwardly latched position as thecarrier arm is indexed to the winding position. Therefore, the tongueassociated therewith would not engage the lever arm 77. As can be seen,a signal is produced only when a full yarn holder has been placed on apost by an operator and, if the operator fails to load a carrier armbefore the particular carrier arm is rotated into the unwindingposition, then a false count will not be produced.

it is to be understood that through the specification and claims anyreference to a full-yarn holder will include yarn holders that arepartially full and placed on the post 36 to be unwound.

After the yarn llll has been unwound from a yarn holder A the emptybobbin can be removed from the carrier arm by any suitable apparatus,such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,048,349 and partially disclosed inFIG. ll. When the carrier arm is indexed the tongue 58 continues to rideon the peripheral edge of the cam and as such reaches point 80 on thecam it is moved radially outwardly causing the lifting arm to be raised.it continues in this raised position until the lifting arm strikes theprojection 69 at which time it is raised slightly more, causing thenotched out portion 62 to ride up on the pin 61 latching the lifting armin the raised position.

The mechanism for removing the empty bobbin from the post 46 anddepositing it in a V-shaped trough M includes a hub 82 carried adjacentthe top of shaft 35 at a point spaced vertically a substantial distanceabove the carrier arms 41 through 44, and has four equally spaced arms33 extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the arms 83 have a bifurcatedend portion 84. The axis of the arms 83'are in vertical alignment withthe axis of a respective branch 4 through 44. Arranged within thebifurcated end portions 84 for pivotal movement about the horizontalaxis are collars 85, one for each arm $3, each collar having a pair ofopposed gudgeons d6 resting in upwardly facing U-shaped recesses 87 inthe bifurcations. Collars 85 encircle and support elongated tubes lid,preferably constructed of transparent plastic or the like. and have asufficient internal diameter to surround the yarn holder A carrying afull supply of yarn in spaced concentric relationship. in verticaldirections, tubes dd project both below and above the level of thecollars d5 extending over a major portion of the length of the yarnholders A for terminating at a level spaced above the upper limit ofposts 36 far enough to clear the upper ends of sleeves 64 when elevatedto package holder unseating positions by the lift arms it.

On the inner side of collars at points lying on the same axis as thebifurcated portions 84 are collar operating levers or crank arms d9, onefor each collar, formed integral with or otherwise fixed to the collars.Levers 89 are of substantial doglegged configuration, each having alower portion projecting at more or less right angles the plane of thecollars and an upper end portion 90 extending angularly from thefree-end of the lower portion towards the upper end of shaft 35 andterminating at a point lying on a circle concentric with shaft 35. Forthe purpose of rocking collars 85 their inner ends 90 of levers 89 areengaged by the lower edge 91 of an annular crown cam 92 supportedagainst rotation from the under surface of machine frame parts by meansof a bracket or the like (not shown). The lower edge 91 of crown cam 92,which edge is the effective camming surface of that cam, lies in acommon horizontal plane around all of the periphery of the cam exceptfor a short arc in which it is extended downwardly to define a generallyU-shaped lobe 93. A circumferential position of lobe 93, and its arcuateextent is necessarily such that it is not engaged by the end of levers89 until the tongue 58 of the lift arm 4L9 situated beneath that leverhas contacted at least radially extending portion 8% on the cam fill toelevate a lift arm 49 and corresponding sleeve 64 to yarn holderunseating position. This allows the collar 85 to be pivoted asillustrated in FlG. ll, so that the yarn holder 8% can drop into theV-shaped trough 81. As previously mentioned, the operating structure ofthe winding machine so far discussed, other than the signal generatingmeans E and G, form a part of well-known winding machines beingpresently used and better known as the U NlCONER winder and discussedmore fully in the abovementioned patents.

Referring now to the electrical circuitry illustrated in F I68. 5 and5A, it can be seen that all of the signal generating means E for aparticular winding machine are "tied together in parallel and generatesignals indicating the bobbins or yarn holders indexed in a particularoperators job. Only four such signalgenerating means E generateillustrated as being connected in parallel, but normally at least allthe signal-generating means on a single operators job are connected inparallel. The totalizing means F, which is in the form of a counter, isprovided for counting the number of times the switches orsignalgenerating means E are closed so as to maintain an accurate countof the total number of yarn holders A indexed.

A completely separate counter (not shown) in a circuit identical to thatillustrated in FlG. 5 is provided for counting the number of times thesignal-generating means G, such as illustrated in FlGS. i and 5A areclosed. As previously mentioned, the signalgenerating means G is closedeach time the restart handle C is pulled down to restart the windingmachine after a mistie or the package B has been doffed. All of theswitches for the winding apparatus being grouped in a particularoperators job are coupled in parallel, such as illustrated in FIG. 5A.

The manner in which the signals generated by either thesignal-generating means F or the signal generating means G are coupledto the counter E will no be described.

To count bobbins indexed a counter time-delay, generally designated bythe reference character 945, is set to a minimum value by moving a wiperarm of a potentiometer or variable rcsistor 95 to the minimum value.This is because it is desirable that the signal generated by aparticular bobbin or yarn holder A being indexed be recordedsubstantially instantaneously on the recorder E since there may beseveral bobbins running out at substantially the same time. One purposefor the small time is to prevent the possibility of double count due toswitch contact bounce.

The time-delay circuit includes the potentiometer 95 and a capacitor 96,and a series resistor 97 which are connected in parallel with thepotentiometer 95 between junctions 98 and 99. Junction 99 is connectedto the base electrode 100 of of transistor 101 through a currentlimiting resistor 102. When junction 99 is coupled to ground throughlead 103 and one of the switches E it is in essence tied to lead 104through ground completing a circuit. This causes the capacitor 96 tocharge to its full potential. The capacitor 96 is charged through acurrent limiting resistor 105 to the full DC voltage of the circuitwhich appears at junction 106 and is in the vicinity of 18 volts. Thegrounding of function 99 is completed through the signalgenerating meansE momentarily as a yarn holder A rotates into position to be unwound.The time-delay circuit 94 begins to function when the circuit betweenjunction 99 and ground is gain opened as by opening the closedsignal-generating means E. Since the potentiometer 95 is set to theminimum value, the capacitor 96 will discharge almost instantaneouslyand will discharge through resistor 105, lead 107, junction 108, lead109, resistor 110, junction 111, resistor 112, an emitter electrode 113of PNP transistor 101, through the base electrode 100 back to junction99. Current is also flowing through the pot 95 and resistor 97. Theamount of current flowing through the emitter and base electrodes 113and 100, respectively, is constant but the amount through the timedelaypotentiometer 95 depends on the setting of the potentiometer. Thecapacitor 96 can be discharged in less than onehalf a second when thepotentiometer 95 is set at its lowest value or the discharge time of thecapacitor 96 may be 7 or 8 seconds if the potentiometer is set on itsmaximum value. When this discharge current from capacitor 96 is flowing,the current flowing through the emitter electrode 113 and out the baseelectrode 100 of transistor 101 will turn the transistor on and allowthe current to flow out of the base of a PNP transistor 114 through itsbase electrode lead 115, resistor 112 and through transistor 101. Thebase current out of transistor 114 in turn, turns transistor 1 14 on.When the transistor 114 is turned on current flows from junction 116,lead 117, relay 118, through emitter electrode 119, and out collectorelectrode 120, lead 121 to junction 122, interposed in lead 104. Theenergizing of relay 118 causes relay contacts 118 and 118" to be closed.When relay contact 118 is closed lamp 123 is illuminated indicating thata bobbin has been indexed. The circuit, including lamp 123, is connectedin parallel by leads 124 and 125 across a source of AC power 126 whichis l volts. The totalizing means F, which in this particular example isa counter, is also connected across the AC source 126 by means of leads127, 128 and 129.

When the relay 118 is initially energized closing relay contact 1 18"the counter F completes one-half of the count cycle. After the capacitor96 discharges below such a level that transistor 114 ceases conduction,deenergizing the relay 118, opening contact 118", then the counter Fcompletes the other half of the count cycle. When the relay 118 isdeenergized the lamp 123 is also deenergized by the opening of relaycontact 1 18'.

The source of power 126, which as previously mentioned can be anysuitable source, is connected between leads 130 and 131 to the primarywinding 132 of a stepdown transformer 133. The transformer steps thevoltage down to approximately 12 volts AC RMS. This 12 volts on thesecondary winding 134 is fed through a rectifying diode 135, and afilter capacitor 136 to junction 106. The capacitor 136 and the diode135 are connected in parallel between the secondary winding 134 and thejunction 106. The secondary winding 134 is grounded throughlead 134a toground. The half-wave rectifying diode 135 in cooperation with thefilter capacitor 136 provides a DC voltage of approximately 18 volts atjunction 106. This DC voltage is provided for driving the time-delaycircuit 94, transistors 101, 1 14, relay 118 and places a voltage onlead 103. Power to the signal generating means E is provided throughlead 103 so that when the signal generating means E are closed thetiming capacitor 96 is charged.

The circuit illustrated in FIG. 5A shows the signal generating means Gwhich produces a signal responsive to the operator pulling down therestart handle C. This restart handle C is pulled down each time thereis a mistie so as to restart the machine and each time the package B isdoffed. It is coupled to a circuit identical to that illustrated in FIG.5 with leads 103 and 104 corresponding to leads 103' and 104. The onlydifference between the circuits for counting the number of times therestart handle C has been pulled down and the circuit in FIG. 5 providedfor counting the number of bobbins indexed, is the setting on thepotentiometer of the time-delay circuit 94. The time-delay for themanual restarts is set to the normal working period of the operatorgoing from one spindle to another which may be 3 to 5 seconds. This isto prevent the operator from moving the handle back and forth andringing up several counts when actually he is only starting the machineone time. As previously mentioned, this is not a problem when countingthe number of yarn holders A indexed, since such is a mechanicaloperation. The operation of the time-delay circuit is similar to thatshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,316 granted to OBrien et al., and assignedto the same assignee as the subject application.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a textile winding machine having a yarn carrier mounted forrotation about a vertical axis and adapted to support at least two yarnholders at circumferentially spaced points therearound, means operablefrom time to time for revolving said carrier through an are equal to thecircumferential spacing of said yarn holders on said carriers tosuccessively bring said holders from and to a reserve position to andfrom an active unwinding position, a lifting member provided for raisingan empty yarn holder after such has been unwound so that said empty yarnholder can be ejected from said carrier, said lifting member beingmounted for movement between a raised position when a full-yarn holderis absent therefrom and a depressed position when a full-yarn holder isplaced thereon, the improvement comprising: electrical switch meansactivated each time a full-yarn holder is rotated to the unwindingposition for generating a signal indicative thereof, said electricalswitch means being positioned adjacent the path travelled by saidcarrier as such is rotated so that when said lifting member is depressedwith a full-yarn holder said switch means is activated by said liftingmember as said full-yarn holder is rotated to the unwinding position,said lifting member bypassing said switch means when in a raisedposition as said carrier is rotated to the unwinding position without afull-yarn holder thereon, and totalizing means coupled to said switchmeans for computing the number of fullyam holders unwound on saidwinding machine.

2. The winding machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising acam, a tongue extending downwardly from said lifting member, and ridingon the edge of said cam as said carrier and lifting member are rotated,said electrical switch means being positioned below said cam preceedingsaid unwinding position so that said tongue engages said switch means toactivate such as a yarn holder is rotated into said unwinding position.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a restarthandle operably mounted on said winding machine for starting saidmachine, a second signal generating means carried by said textilewinding machine for generating a signal responsive to said restarthandle being depressed by an operator, and means coupled to said secondsignal generating means for recording the number of times said windingmachine has been restarted by an operator.

more than one signal indicating a restart of said winding machine to berecorded in a given period of time.

1. In a textile winding machine having a yarn carrier mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to support at least two yarn holders at circumferentially spaced points therearound, means operable from time to time for revolving said carrier through an arc equal to the circumferential spacing of said yarn holders on said carriers to successively bring said holders from and to a reserve position to and from an active unwinding position, a lifting member provided for raising an empty yarn holder after such has been unwound so that said empty yarn holder can be ejected from said carrier, said lifting member being mounted for movement between a raised position when a fullyarn holder is absent therefrom and a depressed position when a full-yarn holder is placed thereon, the improvement comprising: electrical switch means activated each time a full-yarn holder is rotated to the unwinding position for generating a signal indicative thereof, said electrical switch means being positioned adjacent the path travelled by said carrier as such is rotated so that when said lifting member is depressed with a full-yarn holder said switch means is activated by said lifting member as said full-yarn holder is rotated to the unwinding position, said lifting member bypassing said switch means when in a raised position as said carrier is rotated to the unwinding position without a full-yarn holder thereon, and totalizing means coupled to said switch means for computing the number of full-yarn holders unwound on said winding machine.
 2. The winding machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cam, a tongue extending downwardly from said lifting member, and riding on the edge of said cam as said carrier and lifting member are rotated, said electrical switch means being positioned below said cam preceeding said unwinding position so that said tongue engages said switch means to activate such as a yarn holder is rotated into said unwinding position.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a restart handle operably mounted on said winding machine for starting said machine, a second signal generating means carried by said textile winding machine for generating a signal responsive to said restart handle being depressed by an operator, and means coupled to said second signal generating means for recording the number of times said winding machine has been restarted by an operator.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: a timing circuit interposed between said second signal generating means and said totalizing means which prevents more than one signal indicating a restart of said winding machine to be recorded in a given period of time. 